No techno on the school run: slower songs reduce drivers' speed
Turn off the dance music. And lift your foot off the accelerator. It's time to change your driving playlist.
Drivers are being urged to listen to music with a slower tempo when driving because of the positive effect it has on driving style.
Studies have found that songs with a fast tempo, considered to have more 120 beats per minute (bpm), can subconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes more often.
In contrast, researchers at Brunel University found that music which matches the average resting heart rate — about 60-80bpm — is associated with calmer, more focused driving.
Tracks within the range include the Beatles' Let It Be and Angels by Robbie Williams.
The research found that faster music can lead to increased
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Quarter of drivers don't bother getting eyes checked
Almost a quarter of motorists have not had an eyesight test in the past two years, a survey suggests. The poll, commissioned by the insurer Churchill, revealed that 24 per cent of motorists had not had their vision checked by a professional optometrist within that period. Drivers must be able to read a number plate 20 metres away as part of the driving test, but that is the only time they are required to prove their sight is good enough for them to drive. It comes amid growing public concern that some drivers, especially older ones, have eyesight quality that is below the legal minimum. A senior coroner earlier this year said that ' self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie', while Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, has said she was 'open to considering' mandatory eye tests. Nicholas Mantel, the head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: 'It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. 'What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough – or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses. 'Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.' Churchill's survey, carried out by Opinium, polled 2,000 adults, of whom just over 1,300 were drivers. Some 12 per cent of surveyed drivers admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were unsure if it was. About 83 per cent of UK adults would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade, Churchill's poll revealed. That figure rose to 88 per cent for those who would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reached the age of 70. The law says a licence holder must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive, which includes if their eyesight has deteriorated beyond the legal minimum. Ms Alexander received a prevention of future deaths report from the senior coroner for Lancashire in April after four pensioners were killed by drivers with failing eyesight. 'The motorists had ignored the advice of opticians that their sight had deteriorated to a level at which they should no longer be behind the wheel,' said Dr James Adeley. Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that, in 2023, 240 people were injured and seven killed in crashes in which defective eyesight was a factor. That was the most casualties since 2017, when the total was 262. A DfT spokesman said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. 'The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Harston JCB crash leaves motorcyclist seriously injured
A motorcyclist was seriously injured after colliding with a JCB tractor, police services were called to the junction of London Road and Shelford Road, near Harston which is close to Cambridge, at about 17:00 BST on said the blue Honda NC750X motorbike was involved in the collision with the tractor which was heading in the opposite force said the rider, a 44-year-old man from Cambridge, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The driver of the JCB, a 29-year-old man from Newton, was uninjured and remained at the scene after the Dan Newton said: "I am appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage to get in touch with us." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Auto Express
an hour ago
- Auto Express
Avoid using car finance claim firms, says financial watchdog
Consumers have been advised to steer clear of using car finance claim firms, as the UK's top financial watchdog says they could be spending money unnecessarily. The Financial Conduct Authority has begun setting out advice surrounding a possible redress scheme with regard to the ongoing car finance scandal which, according to experts, could see billions of pounds made available for potential claims. Advertisement - Article continues below However, with countless companies now popping up to assist potential claimants, the FCA is keen to remind motorists that in using one 'they may end up paying for a service they do not need and having to pay up to 30 per cent in fees out of any award they may receive'. Rather than utilise one of these paid services, consumers can submit timestamped complaints and claims themselves. Tools such as those on the MoneySavingExpert website can help people search for previous finance agreements, while the site also provides a template in order to draft a letter of complaint. With the Supreme Court set to make its judgement next month in regard to whether 'discretionary commission arrangements' (DCAs) were illegal in the first instance, the FCA is also advising finance firms on how they should calculate claims for disgruntled clients. The FCA is keen for a redress scheme to strike a balance between being fair to consumers, but at the same time not disrupting the market by putting finance firms out of business. In its latest release, the FCA says that the latter scenario could 'reduce competition and could make it more expensive for consumers to borrow money to buy a car in the future'. Such a scheme will fall under one of two arrangements: 'opt-in' and 'opt-out'. With the former – considered the most likely scenario – claimants would be required to notify their finance provider prior to a specified date if they wish to be considered for redress. 'Opt-out', on the other hand, would mean that everyone who is eligible will automatically be included, unless they contact their firm to be taken off the list. Consumers can expect the FCA to announce within six weeks of the Court's judgement in July as to whether a full redress scheme will be implemented, and how exactly it will operate. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go…
